Glossary of key words in the formulation of questions Flashcards
Flashcards to aid in your understanding of vocabulary used in WACE exam questions.
Account
Account for: state reasons for, report on.
Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions
Advise
Recommend or inform
Analyse
Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and
relate implications
Apply
Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation
Argue
Make a case, based on appropriate evidence, for and/or against some
given point of view
Assess
Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size
Calculate
Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information
Choose
Decide or select the most suitable from a number of different options
Clarify
Make clear or plain
Classify
Arrange or include in classes/categories
Comment on
Make reference to and expand upon
Compare
Show how things are similar and different
Complete
Finish an outlined task
Consider
Reflect on and make a judgement/evaluation
Construct
Make; build; put together items or arguments
Contrast
Show how things are different or opposite
Correlate
Demonstrate a mutual or complementary relationship
Create
Make, invent something
Critically
analyse/evaluate
Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding,
logic, questioning, reflection and quality to analyse/evaluate
Debate
Develop a logical (sometimes persuasive) argument, giving differing
views in response to a topic
Deduce
Draw conclusions
Define
State meaning and identify essential qualities
Demonstrate
Show by example
Derive
Deduce or obtain by reasoning
Describe
Provide characteristics and features
Determine
Decide, find out
Develop
Generate, elaborate or expand to a more advanced state; add detail to
Discuss
Identify issues and provide points for and/or against
Distinguish
Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; note
differences between
Draw
An instruction, as in draw a circle; sketch in lines or words; derive, as in
draw a conclusion
Evaluate
To ascertain the value or amount of; appraise carefully
Examine
Inquire into
Explain
Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident;
provide why and/or how
Explore
Investigate, search for or evaluate
Extract
Choose relevant and/or appropriate details
Extrapolate
Infer from what is known
Identify
Recognise and name
Illustrate
Similar to ‘explain’ (see above), but requires the quoting of specific
examples or statistics, or possibly the drawing of maps, graphs,
sketches etc.
Interpret
Draw meaning from
Investigate
Plan, search or inquire into; examine in order to obtain the true facts
Judge
Form an opinion, estimate or conclusion; make a determination
Justify
Support an argument or conclusion; give reasons for your statements or
comments
Label
(and annotate)
Identify by placing a name or word used to describe the object or thing
List
Provide a series of related words, names, numbers or items that are
arranged in order, one after the other
Measure
Obtain a metrical unit (e.g. size, dimension, quantity, degree, proportion)
Modify
Alter; change the form or quality
Name
Provide a word or term used to identify an object, person, thing, place
etc. (something that is known and distinguished from other people or
things)
Outline
Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of
Predict
Suggest what may happen based on available information
Prepare
(e.g. in
Accounting)
Take the necessary action to put something into a state where it is fit for
use or action, or for a particular event or purpose
Present (an
argument)
Offer or convey something such as an argument or statement to
somebody formally; a discussion that offers different points of view on
an issue or topic; debate
Propose
Put forward (for example, a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion)
for consideration or action
Prove
Use a series of steps or a scientific method to determine a required
result
Recall
Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences
Recommend
Provide reasons in favour
Recount
Tell a series of events; narrate in order
Respond to
… Provide an answer; reply
Select
Choose somebody or something from among several
Show
Give information; illustrate
Sketch
Produce a picture or diagram quickly, roughly; give a brief outline in
words
Solve
Determine a solution to a mathematical problem; find an answer to, or
explanation of, a problem
State
Express the particulars of an idea or topic
Suggest
Propose a possible action, solution or hypothesis
Summarise
Express, concisely, the relevant details
Synthesise
Put together various elements to make a whole; gather all ideas and
combine them into a complex whole; combine all parts
